Alvarez: Sereno’s statements outside hearing ‘invalid’

Whatever argument Chief Justice Maria Lourdes raises in media cannot be considered a valid defense in the impeachment charges against her because it is not the proper forum, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Friday.

“What I’m saying is, she does not appear in the hearing [so] how can she defend herself properly? Then she will issue statements to the media, but those are not valid,” Alvarez said in a dzMM radio interview.

Alvarez said Sereno’s statements during public appearances at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City last Thursday could not be considered valid because the engagements were not the proper forums.

“This is why she needs to attend [the House hearing] to disprove the allegations and the evidence laid out against her. She knows this since she is a lawyer herself,” the speaker said.